Our industry

Although faring better than some, the crane, access and telehandler industry was still heavily affected by the events of 2020. Even so, it was encouraging to see how quickly companies were able to adapt, with many rental companies bouncing back to ‘normal’ levels in the fourth quarter. Manufacturers also began to see improvements as rental companies began opening up capital investment blocks.

Perhaps more encouraging however was how well companies came together - be it two metres apart - to help others. We received numerous examples of support, from donations of medical equipment and supplies to companies manufacturing safety devices for health workers. Meals were also prepared for the vulnerable and disadvantaged, while activity books and superhero inspired fundraising activities were organised for children stuck in lockdown. We applaud these efforts, which came as no surprise, and hope the spirit and fight continues into 2021.

Below are the industry news highlights from 2020

December / January

December/ January

• 10,000th Ommelift delivered after producing its first in 1981

• Custom Equipment launches 19ft Hybrid PS-1930 scissor lift

• Pettibone enters scissor lift market with 13 models offering working heights from 5.6 to 14 metres

• Mammoet completes ALE acquisition

• Comansa launches 37.5t/50t 21CM750 flat top tower crane

• Klubb launches first new EGI truck mounted lift

• First lithium-ion Snorkel Speed Levels delivered

February

• Klaas unveils 6t/60m K1100 RSX aluminium truck crane

• New IPAF PAL Cards feature ‘smart’ technology

• Elisabeth Ausimour appointed Manitou president

• Sany unveils 17m /4.5t telehandler for US market

• MEC launches low weight 34ft 34-J telescopic boom lift

• Luigong unveils electric drive scissor lifts LSC1012DE and LSC0607DE

• Skyjack introduces new generation ANSI machines

• Genie unveils light weight 60ft S-60J telescopic boom lift

• Sunward shows American specification telehandler

• JLG launches ‘Ausa built’ ultra compact telehandlers

• JLG introduces new R-model scissor lifts & triple capacity HC3 boom lifts

GMG introduces new 1030PA push around lift

Conexpo and other show launches

• Snorkel launches 210ft 2100SJ mega boom lift plus new four heavy duty scissor lifts

• Magni unveils world’s highest telehandler with 51m RTH 6.51

• Manitowoc launches 150t MLC150-1 lattice boom crawler crane and an updated version of the 400 tonne GMK 6400 AT

• Genie launches new 80ft Genie S-80 J/ Trax J range of telescopic boom lifts

• Dingli unveils the 86ft EAB28ERT, the first of a seven model electric boom lift range

• Tadano unveils new North American Rough Terrain cranes

• Liebherr unveils 120t LTM 1120-4.1

• JLG launches 67ft 670SJ selflevelling boom lift and a 23m/4.5t 1075 fixed frame telehandler

• Potain is to launch the 10 tonne MRH 175 luffing jib tower crane

• Pettibone shows new 14.6m/ 5.4t T1246X telehandler

• New Grove 120t GRT8120 Rough Terrain crane

• Haulotte exhibits the new 46ft HT16RTJ Pro telescopic boom lift

March

• Enerpac launches 400t hydraulic gantry crane

• Jekko unveils battery powered 600kg MPK06 pick & carry crane

• Comet introduces 14m Street Lighter X14 truck mounted platform

• Ruthmann acquires US distributor ReachMaster

• New ISO standard for the aerial work platform controls published

• Palfinger updates its 50-60 t/m loader cranes which is followed by 40 and 50 t/m models

• New 23m telescopic from Multitel

• Potain launches 10t MRH 175 hydraulic luffing jib tower crane

April/May

• US initiates investigation into crane imports after a petition from Manitowoc

• Xtreme adds four C-class telehandlers to its range

• CTE introduces 23m Lift 23HV truck mounted platform

• Haulotte introduces a tracked version of its 12.5ft Star 6 mast lift

• Potain adds to MDT range with its 20-32t MDT 569 flat top crane

• Versalift launches 15.1m cutaway van mount the VDTL-150-F

• IPAF confirm Norty Turner as president and appoints Karin Nars and Karel Huijser as deputy and vice-president respectively.

• 200,000th XCMG crane produced

• ELS adds 8ft EL4.5 Junior push around scissor lift

• Dingli introduces all electric version of its 65ft JCPT2223RTB heavy duty scissor lift

• Aichi re-enters the European market with the 52ft SP14DJ boom lift and a new German distributor

June

• Zoomlion introduces pure electric 25t ZTC250N- EV truck crane

• Wolffkran launches 16t 235B luffing jib tower crane to replace 224B

• Bobcat launches Stage V range of fixed frame telehandlers

• Platform Basket launches road/rail crawler boom lift

• German army orders 4,000 Hiab hook loaders

• Genie president Matt Fearon announces his departure after 25 years with the company

• AlmaCrawler introduces 46ft Jibbi 1670Evo tracked self-levelling telescopic boom lift

July/August

• Jekko unveils 5t SPX650 all electric spider crane

• Ruthmann introduces compact 70m T 700 HF truck mounted platform

• Klubb announces plans for a Light range of van mounted platforms

• XCMG launches 750t XCA750 AT crane

• Ausa launches new versions of its T204H and T235H compact telehandlers

• M-Kran takes delivery of the largest crane in Russia, a 1,600t Demag CC 8800-1 crawler crane

• Hinowa introduces all electric TeleCrawler13 spider lift

• Terex announces plans to manufacture Franna pick & carry, RT and tower cranes in India

September

• First all electric Maeda 2.82 tonne MC285C-3 spider crane

• Comansa updates 11LC flat top tower crane range

• Niftylift launches its Gen2 Hybrid for its range of hybrid boom lifts

• Ommelift introduces 26m insulated hybrid spider lift

• GSR updates 20m B200T truck mounted platform on Iveco and Mercedes chassis

• IPAF appoints Brian Parker as head of safety & technical

• 1,000t test load for Liebherr’s 800t LR 1800-1.0 crawler crane

October

• Liebherr unveils 150t LTM 1150-5.3 AT crane to replace its 130t LTM 1130-5.1

• Genie launches articulated TraX version of its 62ft Z-62/40 articulating boom lifts

• Tadano announces restructure of its German operations

• Cargotec and Konecranes agree to merge

• Demag’s 156t GTC-1800EX telescopic crawler crane launched

• Klaas replaces K17-24 TSR trailer crane with 800kg K280

• Imer introduces 15m IM R R15 DA articulated spider lift

• LGMG adds to top end of its electric scissor range

• New Ascendant truck mounted platform

• Niftylift USA moves into all new premises

November

450 tonne Demag AC 450-7 All Terrain introduced

• Sinoboom unveils all new 60ft AB18EJ electric and AB18HJ hybrid articulated boom lifts

• JCB launches first all electric telehandler, the 6m/2.5t 525-60E

• Haulotte adds 43ft HS15E and 53ft HS18E all electric RT scissor lifts to Pulseo range

• Sarens builds all electric version of its 1,650t SGC-90 heavy lift crane

• Mammoet unveils plans for 6,000t SK6,000 containerised heavy lift crane

• Aichi introduces new all electric telescopic boom lift

• LGMG adds a 63ft articulated along with 72ft and 92ft telescopic boom lifts

• Multitel delivers first 77m MJ 775 truck mounted platform to O.Mec

• Genie announces a new AC direct electric wheel motor drive system E-Drive

JCB launches all electric 6m/2.5t 525-60E

• IPAF issues its two millionth PAL Card

• India’s Sudhir acquires UK based Star Platforms

• Mammoet’s 6,000t SK6000 crane

December

• Liebherr announces first battery electric lattice crawler crane, the 200t LR 1200.1 Unplugged and 250t LR 1250.1 Unplugged

• Poland’s PGE GiEK receives the 40,000th Liebherr mobile crane

• US sales and rental company Nesco acquires Custom Truck One Source

• Bobcat to brand Magni 360 degree telehandlers

• The US Commerce department terminates its investigation into mobile crane imports

• Haulotte announces all new production facility in China

• Palfinger updated its Italian-built Smart Line of 3.5 tonne truck mounted platforms

• Zoomlion unveiled the prototype of its 217ft ZT68J self-propelled telescopic boom lift